Ian McKellen, 85, Rushed to Hospital After Falling Off Stage

Sir Ian McKellen, 85, was rushed to a hospital after falling off the stage during a performance of Player Kings.

On Monday, June 17, McKellen performed a fight scene from the play at Noël Coward Theatre in London, England, when he lost his balance and tumbled off the stage, multiple outlets reported.

Reportedly, the actor fell off the front of the stage and screamed in pain as he landed, per BBC. Theater staff quickly responded to him before McKellen was rushed to a nearby hospital. The play was cancelled at that point, according to the publication, and the audience was evacuated from the building.

"Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of Player Kings," a statement from Noël Coward Theatre, via McKellen's rep, read.

"Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits," the statement continued. "Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support."

Furthermore, the Tuesday, June 18 performance of Player Kings was cancelled "so Ian can rest."

An audience member, Sandro Trapani, told BBC the accident was "very shocking."

"I really hope that he is going to be alright," Trapani said. "As far as I saw, he was conscious because he was asking for assistance."

McKellen has played John Falstaff in the production since April, and the show's last date was supposed to be on June 22.

The actor is most well-known for portraying Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and Magneto in the X-Men films. Additionally, McKellen had notable roles in Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Da Vinci Code and Mr. Holmes, among many other projects.

In an interview published in The Times of London on June 7, McKellen said he was open to reprising his role as Gandalf “if I’m alive." He clarified, “But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan."

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